X2 Total Body Review

X2 Total Body can loosely be categorized as a strength workout that works most major muscle groups in synergistic combinations, often under the conditions of instability, resulting in core engagement. The workout is set up as 12 moves, which are then repeated in sequence, for a total of 24 moves. The moves including push-ups or chest exercises using the stability ball, pull-up exercises, biceps curls, triceps extensions, and combination moves utilizing shoulder presses and lunges. The legs and core are involved in many of the moves, though there aren't really leg specific workouts besides the lunges. The workout on the surface reminded me of P90X(1) Chest and Back in its form, but after completing it, I realized it was very different. In fact, in some ways it is a much easier workout than Chest and Back, however I still finished feeling worked and tired. It was encouraging that even the first time through, I was able to complete every exercise fairly well. I remember finishing my first Chest and Back 3 years ago and feeling like a Mack truck had just run me over, and I barely was busting out 1 pull-up per exercise by the end. This workout didn't leave me with that feeling, but during the exercises I aimed for form over everything else, went slow when I had to go slow, and felt a spent by the end.

The warm-up is consistent with all the other month 1 workouts, including dips and twists with the stability ball, foam rolling, and a set of stretches. Some of the highlights of the workout were "boing" push-ups, where you perform push-ups while holding the stability ball, crunchy lever pull-ups where you curl into a ball and rotate backwards and forwards on the pull-up bar, and mule kick burpees, which combine a yoga-type slow kick back into plank followed by prison-cell push-ups and jumping in, a la the burpee, in between reps. Some of the more difficult workouts utilized the stability ball, including a one armed triceps kickback while leaning on the ball with your forearm. There are also a couple of moves in warrior 3 position, which is definitely not easy!

I liked this workout, because it wasn't hard for the sake of being hard. It was hard because it encouraged me to squeeze everything out of myself, knowing I was more than capable of doing this workout. It has become to clear to me in phase I of P90X2 that the goal is not to "kill" you right out of the gate, it is truly to build your "foundation" for future workouts. That's not to say these workouts are easy, but they are surprisingly approachable. Ways to improve may not necessarily be upping your weights and reps, but rather adding control, being able to balance and hold positions longer, and building on mental toughness. I could really get into that! I'd give this workout a good B+ or A-. In some ways, I like the Total Body from P90X+ a little bit better, but this workout was very solid and I look forward to doing it again!